Top 10 Coolest Hotel Pools

For some people, the perfect hotel pool is defined by location. Maybe it's a free-form pool in Hawaii, framed by palm trees and hibiscus and situated a stone's throw from the ocean. Or perhaps it's a minimalistic pool perched on a rooftop in a megalopolis, with glittering skyscraper views to entertain your eyes. For many people, the joy is in the watery details, with fountains, grottoes, waterfalls and water slides adding a touch of drama to the promise of refreshment.

Top 10 Coolest Hotel Pools

For some people, the perfect hotel pool is defined by location. Maybe it's a free-form pool in Hawaii, framed by palm trees and hibiscus and situated a stone's throw from the ocean. Or perhaps it's a minimalistic pool perched on a rooftop in a megalopolis, with glittering skyscraper views to entertain your eyes. For many people, the joy is in the watery details, with fountains, grottoes, waterfalls and water slides adding a touch of drama to the promise of refreshment. Whatever your preference for poolside lounging and play, we've scoured the land for America's coolest hotel pools. Read on for a list of the watering holes that make the biggest splash.

Jackson Hole might be world-renowned for its skiing, but the Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole deserves a spot in the pool hall of fame for this amazing watering hole. Inspired by the stunning scenery of nearby Grand Teton National Park, this outdoor heated pool, open all year, was designed to look like the Snake River. Features include waterfalls, rocks and eddies. Even the three hot tubs were created to conjure natural geysers and hot springs. The best part? "Snow Angels" stand by poolside to proffer a hot towel, robes and slippers as you make your way out of the water.

Retro and contemporary at the same time--and pretty much the apex of South Beach cool--the centerpiece pool at this iconic Miami Beach resort harkens back to the Rat Pack era. The Fontainebleau re-opened in November 2008 after a billion dollar renovation, with the resort's new and improved free-form pool taking its inspiration from architect Morris Lapidus' original bowtie design. Cabanas set in grassy enclaves are available for hire, and there are intimate dipping pools, a secluded oasis pool and a waterscape play zone for kids, too.

Card sharks in the casinos may not sound very appealing, but you'll love swimming with a view of real sharks at this flashy Las Vegas hotel. Fear not. The sharks at the Golden Nugget's pool are safely contained behind the thick acrylic walls of a 200,000-gallon tank, and they're accompanied by rays, jacks and other saltwater denizens so you don't have to worry about the toothy fellas getting the munchies. You'll be perfectly safe as you fly down a three-story, enclosed waterslide that cuts through the tank, allowing you awesome views of the inhabitants before you settle into your lounge chair for the day.

The Moorish arches and colonnades surrounding this stunning pool in a ritzy section of Miami make for a setting straight from Arabian Nights at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. And if you're looking for a pool that's nearly impossible to overcrowd, this is the spot--the Biltmore's pool is the largest in the country, with a whopping 700,000 gallons of water. Grab a lounge chair for a spate of celebrity spotting (the original Tarzan actor was once a swim instructor here, and the hotel remains a favorite with sports stars and other A-listers), or retreat to one of the private cabanas tucked behind a veil of bougainvillea.

Freshwater pools designed to resemble tropical rivers ribbon their way through lush Hawaiian landscaping, grottoes and thundering waterfalls at the oceanfront Grand Hyatt Kauai. Snag a lounge chair on the wraparound deck or splash with your kids on the 150-foot long waterslide. If you prefer your water salty, ocean-style, you'll love the resort's enormous manmade lagoon pool, with a gently sloping entry for safe swimming and kayaks available for rent. Ocean views while you swim round out the bliss.

With three swimming pools, a wave pool, a lazy river and a real sand beach, Mandalay Bay Resort's swimming options take the notion of a pool escape to the next level. But really, would you expect anything less in Las Vegas? Mandalay Bay Beach, as the complex is called, is surrounded by cabanas for rent, villas with personal butlers and daybeds. No surprise, The Beachside Casino is mere steps from the water, too. Poolside spa treatments are standard operating procedure, and concerts are staged here during the summer months. But simply kicking back under the desert sun between dips is enough to keep you occupied for hours

Few things are as invigorating as watching the persistent pounding of the Pacific Ocean from a Big Sur perch along California's prettiest stretch of coastline--particularly if you can soak in the views while soaking in an infinity pool on the edge of a cliff. Post Ranch Inn's three pools are strategically placed to initiate jaw-dropping reactions. And they're kept a balmy 104 degrees, too, so you don't have to worry about the area's rapidly changing weather raining on your parade. Your options for getting wet include an infinity hot tub, infinity meditation pool and lap pool.

Set like a turquoise nugget into the rooftop of one of downtown Los Angeles' most sceney spots, this eye-popping pool is as minimalistic as the hotel's rooms. Come nightfall, the setting really sparkles, with glittering city views and a loungey vibe. Some guests take to the heated pool, while others lounge by the outdoor fireplaces and waterbed-inspired seating areas. It's beautiful people-watching territory, for sure - that is, if you can take your eyes off the sparkling skyline.

This Waldorf-Astoria Collection property toes the line between the tropical whimsy that's Hawaii and the glamour that defines one of America's most exotic vacation destinations. Whether you're looking to learn scuba in a pool dedicated to the sport, swim with adults only in a peaceful oasis decorated with mosaic tiles, or gallivant with the whole family in one of the resort's nine free-form pools (complete with rope swings, seven waterslides, caves and a swim-up bar), there's a pool with your name on it here. There's even a watery elevator mechanism to lift you to the top of the Lava side. Kids will be in heaven.